Cam control sprinkler



J. A. MULLAN Oct. 15, 1968 CAM CONTROL SPRINKLER 3 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Sept.

INVENTOR. JOSEPH A. MULLAN FlG.2.

1968 J. A. MULLAN 3,405,371

CAM CONTROL SPRINKLER Filed Sept. 8, 1966 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 F IG VENTOR F I JOSEPH MULLAN Oct. 15, 1968 J. A. MULLAN 3,405,871

CAM CONTROL SPRINKLER Filed Sept. 8, 1966 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 F I G. 9. INVENTOR.

JOSEPH A. MULLAN United States Patent 3,405,871 CAM CONTROL SPRINKLER Joseph A. Mullan, 7031 Wolff St., Westminster, Colo. 80030 Filed Sept. 8, 1966, Ser. No. 577,871 Claims. (Cl. 239-236) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to a lawn sprinkler of the rotating nozzle type wherein the nozzle carries a earn follower and the base is provided with one or more concentric undulating cam surfaces selectively engageable by the cam follower to provide various water distribution patterns. The nozzle is turned by a water-driven impeller which drives a gear reducer that includes a novel friction clutch that permits the nozzle to be locked in fixed position without damaging the drive train. One version of the unit includes a single adjustable cam surface while another has a butterfly valve in the discharge tube leading to the nozzle that is operatively linked to the latter so as to vary the flow in response to changes in nozzle elevation brought about as said nozzle travels along the cam surface.

Many different commercially-available lawn sprinklers employ a water-powered rotating head that sprays a circular pattern. One of the most popular units is of the impulse type that can be adjusted to oscillate back-andforth to cover sectors of varying degrees of angularity. Others vary the distance the water is thrown by moving orifices in the head past fixed parts in the delivery tube, thus achieving a semblance of rectangular spray patterns with a rotating head. One of the most recent additions to the lawn sprinkler field provides for selecting from among several rectangular and circular spray patterns through substitution of interchangeable cams. It is to the latter type of sprinkler that the instant invention relates.

The prior art multiple-pattern sprinklers of the types above-mentioned are oftentimes complicated and, for this reason, quite expensive. Those that attempt to produce square or rectangular patterns by varying the volume of water admitted to the nozzle, while simple, fail to achieve the patterns that are claimed for them and, in addition, do not produce even water distribution. Still others atomize the spray to such an extent that a considerable portion thereof never reaches the ground and even the slightest wind renders them substantially useless.

It has now been found in accordance with the teaching of the instant invention that these and other problems can be overcome through the use of a rotating sprinkler head riding atop a cam surface that raises and lowers the nozzle so as to produce the desired spray pattern. In one version, a plurality of ditierent cams are arranged concentrically around the axis of nozzle rotation and the user manipulates a cam follower to select the one he wants. In another, a single cam is used which can be deformed into various shapes to suit the particular sprinkling problem.

Each version of the sprinkler includes a bladed impeller journalled in a water-tightchamber against which the incoming stream of water is directed. By adding a simple deflector plate operated by the sprinkler nozzle, it beice comes possible to reverse directions at any point in the nozzle excursion by causing the incoming stream to impinge upon the opposite faces of the impeller blades. A simple butterfly valve operatively linked to the rotating nozzle assembly automatically varies the volume of water issuing from the nozzle as a function of its inclination above horizontal. Means are also provided for deactivating the cams and holding the nozzle in fixed position.

It is, therefore, the principal object of the present invention to provide a novel and improved rotating head lawn sprinkler.

A second object is the provision of a device of the type aforementioned that includes means for selectively generating diflerent spray patterns, including rectangular OI'lCS.

Another objective of the invention is to provide a lawnwaten'ng device that can be operated as either the continuously-rotating or oscillatory types.

Still another object of the invention herein disclosed and claimed is the provision of a butter-fly valve in the inlet tube to the nozzle that is controlled by the latter so as to vary the volume of water dispensed thereby in accordance with its inclination.

An additional object is to provide a rotating sprinkler that can be locked in fixed position to saturate a given area or used as a hand-held sprinkler.

Further objectives of the invention are to provide a lawn-watering device that is relatively simple, inexpensive, rugged, versatile, compact, one that will operate satisfactorily over Wide variations in water pressure, a unit that produces even water distribution, and a device of the type above-described that is decorative in appearance.

Other objects will be in part apparent and in part pointed out specifically hereinafter in connection with the description of the drawings that follows, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of the multiple-cam embodiment of the sprinkler that includes means for holding the nozzle stationary;

FIGURE 2 is a vertical section taken along line 2-2 of FIGURE 1, portions of the handle having been broken away and shown in section to better reveal the latch element;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary section showing the construction of the sealed chamber that houses the impeller, speed-reduction gear train and associated clutch;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary vertical section to an enlarged scale taken along line 44 of FIGURE 2 showing the cam-follower subassembly;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary development of the cam used to spray a square pattern;

FIGURE 6 is a view like FIGURE 5 except that the cam illustrated therein is shaped to spray an elongate rectangular pattern;

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary detail, portions of which have been broken away and shown in section, illustrating a modified version of the sprinkler including a butterfly valve to control the volume of fluid delivered through the nozzle responsive to the elevation of the latter;

FIGURE 8 is a top plan view, portions of which have been broken away to better reveal the interior construction, showing the single deformable-cam version of the sprinkler equipped with means for reversing the direction of nozzle movement;

FIGURE 9 is a side elevation of the FIGURE 8 version, portions thereof having been broken away and shown in section to better reveal the interior construction; and

FIGURE 10 is a fragmentary section, slightly enlarged, taken along line 1010 of FIGURE 9.

Referring now to the drawings for a detailed description of the invention and, initially, to FIGURES 1-3, inclusive, for this purpose, the sprinkler has been designated in its entirety by reference numeral 10, and it will be seen to include a stationary base-assembly and a rotating head assembly that have been broadly referred to by reference characters 12 and 14, respectively. In the particular form illustrated in FIGURES l and 2, the base assembly 12 includes a hollow hemispherically-shaped stand 16 that has integrally-formed therewith a downwardly-extending continuous annular flange 18 that is centrally-located on the inside of the dome and which forms the wall of sealed chamber 20. The top 22'of this chamber comprises a flattened portion atop the dome-like hemispherical stand while the bottom 24 consists of a circular plate bolted or otherwise attached to the free edge of flange 18 with a gasket 26 (FIGURE 3) therebetween. At the center of this circular plate or disk 24 is an integral boss 28 con taining a socket 30 that journals shaft 32 of the nozzle subassembly for rotation. A similar boss 34 with an opening 36 therethrough journals the upper end of the nozzle subassembly, particularly hollow delivery tube 38 thereof. Opposed step-cut annular shoulders 40 and 42 provided on the delivery tube 38 and boss 34, respectively, cooperate to define an O-ring groove 44 containing an O-ring seal 46 as shown in FIGURE 3. Still another oflset boss 48 displaced radially from boss 34 carries stub shaft 50 that parallels the shaft 32 of the nozzle subassembly and, along with the latter, journals the gears 52 of the speed-reducer train that will be described presently.

As shown in FIGURES l and 2, a conventional hose connector 54 is provided on the outside surface of the stand 16 to which is connected a length of garden hose 56 leading from the water hydrant (not shown). A short length of hose 58 leads from this connector to the inlet tube 60 of the sealed chamber 20. Thus, the water is delivered into the sealed chamber before being drawn off therefrom through the nozzle subassembly.

As the water is delivered into chamber 20 under pressure, it impinges upon the blades 62 of impeller wheel 64 mounted in the path thereof for rotation on shaft 32. In the embodiment of FIGURES 1-3, the impeller is designed to turn only one direction; therefore, the blades 64 are inclined relative to the stream of water issuing from intake tube 60 so as to accomplish the desired motion, the latter being readily achieved by one of ordinary skill. This impeller, while mounted on shaft 32, turns independently thereof at a much faster speed and it carries a small flanged spur gear 66 that is fastened thereto for conjoint rotation and initiates the speed-reduction drive train. Meshed with gear 66 is the large diameter portion of the lowermost change gear 52 of those mounted on stub shaft 50. The small diameter portion of the latter change gear meshes with the large diameter portion of a similar change gear mounted on shaft 32 above gear 66. This arrangement is repeated several times to accomplish the desired speed reduction between the impeller and shaft 32. Of course, all of the change gears rotate independently of one another and their respective shafts with the exception of spur gear 68 fastened to the enlarged section 70 at the base of the delivery tube 38. The latter gear, of course, completes the driving connection to the delivery tube and determines the speed of rotation of the revolving head subassembly 14. Gear 68 is mounted on enlarged section 70 of the delivery tube with a relatively tight slip fit so that under normal operating conditions, it will form the necessary driving connection but, when the rotating head assembly is stopped, it will form a clutch that allows said 4 gear and its associated train to turn independent of the delivery tube.

Now, the stream of water that enters sealed chamber 20 forms the driving medium that rotates the head subassembly and, as one might expect, it also comprises the source of irrigation water. In so doing, it fills the sealed chamber and exits from the delivery tube through aligned ports 72 in the enlarged section 70 at the base thereof. The upper extremity of the delivery tube is bent to produce an elbow 74 (FIGURE 2) that directs the stream of water issuing therefrom more or less horizontally.

Continuing the attention to FIGURES l and 2, it will be seen that the head subassembly 14 includes a handle 76 that is pivotally attached to the. elbow of the delivery tube 38 by means of transverse pivot pin 78. The forward end of the handle has, in the particular form shown, a bifurcated portion 80 that straddles the delivery tube as shown most clearly in FIGURE 1. Thus, the handle is a part of the rotating head assembly and also can pivot up and down relative to the delivery tube although, if desired, the handle can be fixed to the stand and the nozzle connected directly to the delivery tube thus eliminating the handle from the rotating head assembly.

In the particular form illustrated, nozzle 82 comprises a vertically-elongated tubular memmr having one sidewall 83 thereof preferably displaced laterally toward the stream issuing from the delivery tube so that the latter impinges thereagainst. Also, a slot 85 has been shown cut back into the bottom of the tube through which the stream emerges and waters the area immediately adjacent the base or stand. It has been found that by displacing wall 83 so that the stream impinges thereagainst, the relatively small droplets coming from the delivery tube coalesce against said side wall and issue therefrom in the form of large heavy drops that are substantially unaffected by the wind. This nozzle is gripped tightly or otherwise attached in position between the tines of the bifurcated handle end so as to both pivot and rotate therewith. Obviously, as the rotating head assembly pivots up and down, the nozzle moving therewith will direct the stream issuing from the delivery tube at varying distances from the base. By clamping the nozzle between the tines of the handle with a relatively tight friction fit, it becomes possible to adjust the inclination thereof to cover areas of various sizes with the same spray pattern.

On occasion, the user may wish to use the sprinkler'as a stationary spray device to be either set or hand-held, and provision is made for doing so by latching the rotating head assembly to the stand 16. A rotatable latch element 85 having one or more ears 86 on its lower end fits into a correspondingly-shaped keyway 88 provided for the purpose in the stand. In order to fasten the latch element into the keyway, it is necessary to retract the cam-follower that has been indicated in a general way by numeral 90 radially outward beyond the outermost cam track 92 so that the handle or corresponding element of the rotating head assembly can drop down far enough for the latch to engage. In the particular form shown, the latch member has a pin 94 beneath the head 96 thereof that drops into a depression formed in leaf spring 98 to releasably maintain the ears 86 in aligned position with the keyway. A quarter of a turn of the latch element moves the ears around under a solid section of the stand and takes pin 94 out of the spring depression by flattening the latter. When the head assembly is held stationary, the water entering the sealed chamber 20 rotates the gear train as usual but slips gear 68 on the enlarged section 70 of the delivery tube, t-hus actuating the clutch formed therebetween.

Probably the single most important feature of the instant invention is the means by which thesprinkler is set to deliver selected spray patterns and reference will now be made to FIGURES l, 2, 4, 5 and 6 for a detailed description thereof. It has already been mentioned that raising and lowering the nozzle by means of adjusting the height of cam follower 98 will result in the water being sprayed varying distances from the sprinkler. By carefully controlling the up and down excursion of the nozzle as it rotates, patterns of varying shapes can be produced.

Surrounding the delivery tube 38 are a plurality of integrally-formed concentric circular cam tracks 92, 94 and 96, all of which project upwardly from the flattened portion 22 of the stand that functions as the top of the sealed chamber. These cams are all different, two examples thereof having been shown in FIGURES 5 and 6. The cam track 92 of FIGURE 5 would spray a square pattern while track 94 in FIGURE 6 would spray a rectangular one. The highest points of the nodes represent the midpoints of the sides while the depressions raise the nozzle up to throw the stream all the way to the corners.

The cam follower includes a grooved roller 98 that rolls along the top edge of the cam tracks and is mounted for rotation on a pin 100 that depends from an inverted L-shaped bracket 102. This bracket is, in turn, fastened to the lower end of a pin 104 which moves radially back and forth within a slot 106 in the handle 76. A knob 108 sits atop the pin with a dished leaf spring 110 compressed between the knob and handle to hold the cam follower in adjusted radial position within the slot, By moving the cam follower radially, the grooved roller can be made to ride upon any one of the cam tracks. As aforementioned, the size of the pattern can be varied independently of the water flow by raising or lowering the nozzle.

Next, with reference to FIGURE 7, a slightly modified form of the rotating head subassembly 1411: has been shown wherein a small butterfly valve 112 has been mounted in the throat of the delivery tube 38;: adjacent the elbow thereof. This valve is mounted for pivotal movement on shaft 114 that has one extremity extending beyond the tube where it is attached to crank arm 116. The other end of the crank attaches pivotally to link 118 that is, in turn, connected to the handle 7611 by bracket 120. In operation, when the handle pivots to elevate nozzle 82 as it would do when running along a trough in the cam track, the link 118 depresses the crank arm 116 and opens the valve slightly to increase the flow, thereby delivering a greater amount of Water to the corners of the spray pattern along with the greater area inbetween. Conversely, when the handle rides upon a node of the cam track, the valve closes slightly delivering a lesser amount of water to cover the smaller area in close to the sprinkler. The valve assembly of FIGURE 7 can be incorporated in any of the versions of the sprinkler illustrated in the drawings with minor modification.

Finally, with specific reference to FIGURES 8, 9 and 10, still another version of the sprinkler 10m will be described in detail. It dififers from the previously-described designs in two basic respects, namely, (1) a single deformable cam track 122 is employed in place of. the multiple concentric cam tracks and, (2) oscillating means indicated generally by reference numeral 124 are provided to reverse the direction of head rotation through preset arcs or sectors of 360 or less. The intake tube 58m through which water enters the sealed chamber 20 is modified to render same rigid and provide, preferably, a rectangular cross section that flares at the point of entry into the chamber as shown in FIGURE 10 at 126. Mounted within this flared section 126 is a butterfly-type gate 128 that pivots about a vertical axis defined by rocker shaft 130. Gate 128 pivots back and forth between the extreme position shown in FIGURE 10 and one opposite thereto in response to rotation of the handle 76m which carries a ring 132 provided with one or two pins 134 that strike flag 136 on the upper end of the rocker shaft 130. Ring 132 is formed as a part of the handle 76m and is mounted with delivery tube 38 passing up' through the center thereof. The peripheral margin of the ring contains a plurality of spaced apertures 138 (FIGURE 9) that selectively receive the pins 134. A single pin will permit the head assembly 14m to rotate a full 360 before striking the flag and shifting gate or deflector 128 so as to reverse the direction of impeller rotation. The latter operation takes place when the gate deflects the water entering chamber 20 so as to impinge against only one side of the radially-disposed blades 64m. Of course, shifting the gate causes the water stream to hit the opposite face of the impeller blades.

When two pins are used in ring 132, the sprinkler head will oscillate back and forth through a limited arc less than 360. If cam 122 is planar, the pattern sprayed will be sector shaped; whereas, with the cam deformed in some fashion, the spray pattern would be altered in accordance therewith.

The nozzle 82, delivery tube 38, sealed chamber 20 and gear reducer mechanism inside the latter remain substantially unchanged, although, as aforesaid, the butterfly valve of FIGURE 7 could be incorporated if desired. As for the handle 76m, it has been modified to eliminate the mechanism for latching it in a non-rotating position, this function being substantially attainable by placing two of the pins 134 in adjacent holes 138 and bracketing the flag therewith. The base 16111 has been altered slightly to eliminate the keyway which is no longer used and to substitute therefor an integral boss 140 that carries flag pin 130 for rotation. Also, the flattened area 22 atop the housing has been redesigned to eliminate the integral cams and, instead, contains a series of angularly-spaced holes 142 that receive upstanding cam-supporting pins 144 for vertical sliding movement therein. These pins are fastened to the underside of flexible cam track 122 and enable the latter to be deformed by the user to produce a wide variety of different spray patterns, Thus, instead of a series of fixed-shape cam tracks, a single more or less universal cam is employed by which the user may develop his own spray pattern. Of course, the prime advantage of such a cam is to enable the user to sprinkle highly irregular areas that cannot be watered satisfactorily in other ways.

The cam follower subassembly 90m comprises nothing more than a plain roller 98m journalled for rotation on a stub shaft 100m projecting from the side of ring 132. It rolls along the top of the cam track 122 and raises and lowers the nozzle 82 about pivot pin 78 as before.

Having thus described the many useful and novel features of the lawn sprinkler of the present invention, it will be seen that the several worthwhile objectives for which it was developed have been realized. Although but a few specific embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described herein, I realize that certain changes and modifications therein may well occur to those skilled in the art within the broad teaching hereof; hence, it is my intention that the scope of protection aflorded hereby shall be limited only insofar as said limitations are specifically set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. The water distribution device which comprises: a base containing a water-tight sealed chamber, a bladed impeller mounted for rotation within said chamber, a delivery tube mounted for rotation within said chamber about a substantially vertical axis adapted to receive water from the interior thereof and carry same outside, clutch means in the form of a gear frictionally mounted on the delivery tube for rotation relative thereto when said nozzle is held in fixed position and said gear is subjected to a torsional load of predetermined value, speed-reduction means operati-vely interconnecting the impeller and clutch means operative upon rotation of said impeller to rotate the delivery tube at a substantially slower speed, a nozzle mounted on the outside end of said delivery tube for rotation therewith in position to direct the stream of water issuing therefrom laterally around the base, said nozzle being pivotally attached to said delivery tube for limited pivotal movement relative thereto about a substantially horizontal axis, at least one continuous cam track atop the base encircling the delivery tube underneath the nozzle that provides a surface undulating in a generally horizontal direction, cam follower means operatively associated with the nozzle and positioned to ride along the cam track to raise and lower said nozzle so as to spray a predetermined pattern while the latter rotates, and means opening into the sealed chamber adjacent the blades of the impeller adapted to direct a stream of water under pressure thereagainst and turn same.

2. The Water distribution device as set forth in claim 1 in which: at least two cam tracks are arranged in radially-spaced relation around the delivery tube, and in which the cam follower means is mounted for radiallyadjustable movement relative to the axis of nozzle rotation in position to selectively engage the cam tracks.

3. The water distribution device as set forth in claim 1 in which: releasable latch means are operatively associated with the nozzle for rotational movement therewith; and in which means are provided on the base engageable by said latch means whereby said nozzle may be fastened in fixed position.

4. The water distribution device as set forth in claim 1 in which: means comprising a butterfly valve adapted upon actuation to vary the fiow of water to the nozzle is mounted within the delivery tube, and in which link means interconnect said butterfly valve and nozzle operative upon pivotal movement of the latter in response to deviations in the cam track to increase the flow as said nozzle elevates to spray farther from the base.

5. The water distribution device as set forth in claim 1 in which: the cam track comprises a single circular ring of ribbon-like material with a series of angularly-spaced verticallyxlisposed pins projecting from the underside thereof, and in which the base includes vertically-disposed openings positioned to receive each of the pins for slidable movement therein whereby the surface of the cam track can be deformed at will.

6. The water distribution device as set forth in claim 1 in which: a stream-deflecting gate is located within the means for directing the stream of water against the impeller blades, said gate being mounted for limited movement about a vertical axis between a first operative position adapted to deflect the stream of water entering the sealed chamber against one face of the impeller blades so as to rotate same in one direction and a second operative position adapted to redirect the stream against the opposite impeller blade faces and turn same the opposite direction, and in which means responsive to rotational movement of the nozzle is operatively coupled to the gate and adapted to shift the latter alternatively between its first and second positions, said means comprising a ring mounted concentrically with the delivery tube for movement with the nozzle containing a plurality of angularlyspaced radially-extending apertures, at least one pin selectively mountable in said apertures projecting radially outward therefrom, an upstanding axle mounting the gate on the lower extremity thereof for pivotal movement and extending upwardly therefrom into position alongside the ring, and flipper means attached to'the upper end of the axle in position to be struck by the pin as it rotates back and forth. 5

7. The water distribution device as set forth in claim 1 in which: the impeller is mounted on thelower extremity of the delivery tube for independent relative rotation, the clutch means comprises a first spur gear frictionally attached to the delivery tube for conjoint rotation therewith in spaced relation above the impeller, a second spur gear is attached to the impeller for rotation therewith independent of the'delivery tube, and in which the speedreduction means comprises an axle mounted within the sealed chamber in spaced parallelrelation to the delivery tube, at least one change gear mountedon the delivery tube for independent relation rotation between'the first and second spur gears, a second change gear mounted for rotation on the axle with one portion thereof in driving relation to the second spur gear and another portion thereof drivingly connected to a portion of the change gear on the delivery tube, and a third change gear mounted for rotation on the axle having one portion thereof connected in driving relation to another portion of said change gear on the delivery tube and a second portion of said third change gear operatively connected to the first spur gear.

8. The water distribution device as set forth in claim 1 in which: the nozzle is vertically-elongated and adapted to form the stream of water issuing therefrom into a vertically-disposed generally fan-shaped pattern.

9. The water distribution device as set forth in claim 6 in which: the ring is provided with two pins arranged in angularly-spaced relation to one another and cooperating to oscillate the nozzle back and forth through aspray angle less than 360.

10. The water distribution device as set forth in claim 8 in which: the vertically elongated nozzle includes a pair of traversely-spaced subsantially parallel and vertical sidewalls interconnected along their upper margins by an arcuate top wall, one of said sidewalls being displaced laterally such that the stream of water issuing from the delivery tube impinges thereagainst.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 23,646 4/1953 Burdick 239--2O6 1,187,373 6/1916 Nomiya 239-242 1,938,838 12/1933 Jocobson 239-236 2,475,537 7/ 1949 Ashinorth 239236 3,026,044 3/1962 Kennedy 239-236 FOREIGN PATENTS 443,764 5/ 1927 Germany. 335,907 9/1930 Great Britain.

WALTER SOBIN, Primary Examiner. 

